Method of Lines for Transient Flow Fields

Abstract

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code based on the method of lines (MOL) approach was developed for the solution of transient, two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations for incompressible separated internal flows in complex rectangular geometries. The predictive accuracy of the code was tested by applying it to the prediction of flow fields in both laminar and turbulent channel flows with and without sudden expansion, and comparing its predictions with either measured data or numerical results available in the literature. The predicted flow fields were found to be in favorable agreement with those available in the literature for laminar channel flow with sudden expansion and turbulent channel flow with Re=6600. The code was then applied to the prediction of the highly turbulent flow field in the inlet flue of a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG). The predicted flow field was found to display the same trend with the experimental findings and numerical solutions reported previously for a turbulent diverging duct. As the code uses the MOL approach in conjunction with (i) an intelligent higher-order spatial discretization scheme, (ii) a parabolic algorithm for pressure, and (iii) an elliptic grid generator using a body-fitted coordinate system for complex geometries, it provides an efficient algorithm for future direct numerical simulation (DNS) applications in complex rectangular geometries.